Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 331
Nixon White House Tape 331 (April 17, 1972 – April 19, 1972)
33 conversations · Old Executive Office Building · about 4 hr 19 min of released audio
Featuring Nixon, Sanchez, Haldeman, Ziegler, Kissinger
President Nixon held a brief, informal meeting with his personal valet, Manolo Sanchez, in the Old Executive Office Building. While no transcript exists to detail the specifics of their dialogue, the session served as a routine interaction between the President and his longtime staff member. The meeting concluded quickly without any documented policy developments or formal agenda items.
President Nixon met with Ronald Ziegler and Henry Kissinger to coordinate the administration's public posture regarding military actions in Indochina, specifically the recent bombing of Haiphong and the presence of Soviet ships. Kissinger briefed the President on his communications with Soviet Ambassador Anatoliy Dobrynin and journalist Stewart Alsop, emphasizing the administration's determination to maintain a firm stance despite concerns over the upcoming Moscow summit. The group finalized plans for the President to meet with Secretary of Defense Melvin Laird and Admiral Thomas Moorer to ensure consistent testimony before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
President Nixon initiated a brief call through the White House operator to be connected with Secretary of State William P. Rogers. The purpose of the interaction was to facilitate direct communication with the Secretary for undisclosed official business. No further dialogue was recorded during this brief administrative exchange.
President Nixon held a brief, informal meeting with an unidentified individual in the Old Executive Office Building. The conversation, which lasted only eight minutes, appears to contain a singular, reactionary remark regarding an unspecified negative development. No substantive policy discussions, political strategy, or actionable directives were captured on the recording.
President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman meet to discuss administrative reports and the operational status of an unspecified project. During the exchange, they review performance feedback regarding the project's launch and overall execution. Nixon ultimately confirms his intent to move forward with the initiative.
President Nixon and Secretary of State William P. Rogers discuss the administration's strategy for responding to North Vietnamese aggression amidst ongoing troop withdrawal plans. Nixon outlines his intent to announce a reduction in the U.S. troop ceiling to 50,000 within two months to manage domestic political pressure. The two men also discuss the importance of effectively communicating the administration's Vietnam policy to Congress and foreign missions through concise summaries of official transcripts.
President Nixon consults with an associate regarding political strategies to counter Democratic opposition to his Vietnam policies. The discussion centers on drafting a public critique of those who fail to condemn the North Vietnamese invasion, specifically highlighting Secretary of State William P. Rogers's recent Senate testimony. Nixon instructs the participant to coordinate with Clark MacGregor to ensure this messaging is effectively disseminated to influence congressional and public opinion.
President Nixon met with his personal valet, Manolo Sanchez, to coordinate the President's afternoon schedule. During the brief exchange, Nixon announced his intent to take a nap, prompting Sanchez to confirm the timing of his next scheduled engagement at four o'clock. This interaction served to finalize arrangements for the President's rest period within his busy daily itinerary.
President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman discuss legislative strategy, specifically focusing on managing a filibuster and addressing the role of the committee chairman regarding subpoenas. The conversation explores the political optics of delaying tactics in Congress while briefly touching upon Vietnam policy. The two agree to defer deeper discussion of these sensitive topics until a later, more private meeting.
President Nixon met with H. R. Haldeman and Ronald Ziegler to coordinate the administration's public relations strategy regarding the Vietnam War and the ongoing North Vietnamese invasion. The discussion focused on framing the conflict by challenging anti-war Democrats and emphasizing the necessity of U.S. military actions against North Vietnamese targets. Additionally, they evaluated potential congressional resolutions to condemn North Vietnamese aggression and briefly touched upon the potential resignation of Secretary of the Treasury John Connally in relation to the upcoming Soviet summit.
President Nixon and Henry Kissinger met briefly in the Old Executive Office Building to discuss ongoing foreign policy matters. The exchange lacks a substantive transcript, suggesting it served as a short procedural check-in or a lead-in to further deliberations. No specific policy decisions or action items are documented in this brief recorded segment.
President Nixon met with his aide, Stephen B. Bull, in the Old Executive Office Building to review and coordinate the President's upcoming daily schedule. The brief discussion focused on administrative planning and logistics for the morning's agenda. No substantive policy decisions were recorded during this short exchange.
President Nixon and Henry Kissinger met to discuss the escalating military situation in Vietnam, specifically the progress of air strikes and the status of North Vietnamese ground attacks at locations such as An Loc and Long Tieng. They analyzed the domestic political climate, expressing frustration with hostile media coverage and campus anti-war protests, while noting support for the President from figures like George Wallace. Furthermore, they coordinated strategy for Kissinger’s upcoming trip to Moscow and the potential public announcement of a presidential summit with Soviet leadership to maximize political impact.
President Nixon consulted with a White House operator to facilitate an outgoing call. The brief exchange focused on coordinating the connection for a specific individual. No substantive policy discussions or significant political developments occurred during this administrative interaction.
President Nixon recorded a brief, informal memorandum for the file, reflecting on recent social interactions and miscellaneous administrative observations. The President commented on various personal subjects, including individuals he encountered, a recent excursion on the Sequoia, and his daughter Tricia Nixon Cox. The dictation serves as a personal record of these fleeting reflections rather than a discussion of formal policy or government decisions.
President Nixon met with H. R. Haldeman to discuss the impending resignation of Treasury Secretary John Connally, focusing on the political timing and the need to frame his departure as a supportive transition rather than a sign of administration instability. They strategized on potential replacements, specifically identifying George Shultz as the ideal successor due to his expertise and free-market philosophy. Additionally, the President and his staff coordinated a cover story for Henry Kissinger’s secret diplomatic mission to Moscow, deciding to utilize a fake 'periodic staff planning session' at Camp David to distract the press.
President Nixon met with his personal valet, Manolo Sanchez, in the Old Executive Office Building to discuss personal arrangements. The conversation focused on the President's lunch requirements, specifically a request for consommé. No significant political or policy matters were addressed during this brief exchange.
President Nixon met with an unidentified individual to review administrative logistics regarding his daily schedule. The brief discussion centered on managing the President's upcoming appointments and ensuring his availability for key commitments. No major policy decisions were recorded during this interaction.
President Nixon directs Press Secretary Ronald Ziegler to conduct a survey of the White House press corps regarding whether their children attend Washington, D.C. public schools. Nixon aims to use the resulting data—whether presented as raw numbers or percentages—to challenge reporters who are critical of the local school system. He instructs Ziegler to assign staff to personally call members of the press to gather this information, establishing a deadline for the report by the following Wednesday.
President Richard Nixon met with his personal valet, Manolo Sanchez, in the Old Executive Office Building. The brief interaction consisted of a short inquiry, though the specific subject matter remains undocumented due to the lack of a transcript. No further significant developments or policy decisions are recorded for this exchange.
President Nixon met with his personal valet, Manolo Sanchez, in his Old Executive Office Building workspace. The brief interaction, lasting only seven seconds, focused on Sanchez's request for access to the President. No substantive policy matters were discussed beyond this administrative encounter.
President Nixon met with his personal aide, Manolo Sanchez, at the Old Executive Office Building to review the President's upcoming schedule. The conversation centered on logistical arrangements for Nixon's official engagements. No major policy decisions were recorded during this brief administrative check-in.
President Nixon instructed the White House operator to secure his current location by closing the office. This brief directive served to ensure the President's privacy during his work in the Old Executive Office Building. No further substantive matters were recorded during this brief administrative exchange.
President Nixon and Charles Colson discuss political strategy regarding ongoing congressional hearings and the public narrative surrounding the Vietnam War. They analyze the Democratic Party's internal divisions over an 'end to war' amendment, with Nixon emphasizing the need to frame his opponents as siding with communists. Ultimately, the President encourages an aggressive stance, framing the ongoing crisis as an opportunity to project strength and firm leadership to the public.
President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman coordinate a public appearance in the Rose Garden to honor D.C. Police Chief Jerry V. Wilson for his success in reducing crime in the nation's capital. The President outlines his intended remarks, which emphasize the administration's progress on crime and highlight Wilson’s leadership as a national model. During the meeting, the two also briefly touch upon Edwin Reinecke’s testimony regarding the ITT hearings and a scheduled appointment with John B. Connally.
President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman briefly discuss the source of funding for campaign-related 'transletters' to ensure they are being handled appropriately. The President directs Haldeman to ensure these materials are financed through private, rather than government, funds. They also briefly touch upon campaign activities related to the Indiana primary.
President Richard Nixon met with his valet, Manolo Sanchez, in the Old Executive Office Building to discuss personal refreshments. During the brief interaction, the President requested that Sanchez provide him with coffee. No other substantive policy or administrative matters were addressed during this short exchange.
President Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met to finalize logistical arrangements and talking points for an upcoming appointment with D.C. Police Chief Jerry V. Wilson. The discussion addressed the scheduling of a photo opportunity with the U.S. table tennis team and specifically covered the President's intended comments regarding Egil "Bud" Krogh, Jr. The primary objective was to coordinate the sequence and location of these meetings to ensure operational efficiency.
President Nixon consulted with a White House operator to facilitate an outgoing telephone connection. This brief interaction served administrative purposes to establish a line for the President's official communication. No further substantive policy or strategic discussions occurred during this brief exchange.
President Nixon and Press Secretary Ronald Ziegler strategize on managing public perception regarding the North Vietnamese invasion of South Vietnam. Nixon emphasizes the need to project strength, instructing Ziegler to avoid giving the impression that the administration is retreating from the conflict. Additionally, they discuss dismissing critical voices in the press, with Nixon directing Ziegler to portray these critics as irrelevant and out of touch with the reality of the situation.
President Nixon instructed the White House operator to place a telephone call to an individual identified as Mr. Zaker. This brief exchange served as a procedural request to initiate a specific communication. No further substantive discussion occurred during this interaction.
President Nixon and Press Secretary Ronald Ziegler discuss strategies to address media coverage of anti-war protests on university campuses. Nixon proposes a rhetorical counter-attack that highlights the perceived hypocrisy of demonstrators for criticizing the United States rather than the enemy. The pair decides to have a political surrogate, such as Barry Goldwater, deliver this critique to the public to effectively challenge the protestors' stance.
President Nixon and Henry Kissinger discussed the diplomatic risks and strategic conditions surrounding Kissinger’s upcoming trip to Moscow ahead of the Soviet summit. They reached a consensus that any public announcement regarding a return to plenary peace talks on Vietnam must be backed by ironclad Soviet guarantees to prevent the U.S. from being forced to halt bombing and blockade operations prematurely. Following this, Nixon consulted with Charles Colson regarding political pushback from university administrators over the administration’s Vietnam policies, emphasizing a need for a firm, adversarial response to critics.